6.27.2009

I wonder what's wrong with House Minority Leader John Boehner's memory. He's been in Congress for ten terms, during which time presumably he's been paying attention to how things have been done. Which makes his comments today very confusing to me. Via TPM:

"Republicans are offering common-sense solutions that will make a real difference in creating jobs, making health care more affordable, and promoting a cleaner, healthier environment, and reducing energy costs," said Boehner. "We hope our Democrat colleagues will abandon their failed go-it-alone approach and work with us to make these reforms a reality."

Their "go-it-alone" approach? Hmmm. That seems to ring a bell. Where have I heard of a party extending a big, fat middle finger to the opposition before?

Oh, yes. Five years ago, when the Republicans brought us this charming policy:

In scuttling major intelligence legislation that he, the president and most lawmakers supported, Speaker J. Dennis Hastert last week enunciated a policy in which Congress will pass bills only if most House Republicans back them, regardless of how many Democrats favor them.

Hastert's position, which is drawing fire from Democrats and some outside groups, is the latest step in a decade-long process of limiting Democrats' influence and running the House virtually as a one-party institution. Republicans earlier barred House Democrats from helping to draft major bills such as the 2003 Medicare revision and this year's intelligence package. Hastert (R-Ill.) now says such bills will reach the House floor, after negotiations with the Senate, only if "the majority of the majority" supports them.

"Only if the 'majority of the majority' supports them." Yes, I remember that well. You'd think Rep. Boehner would have remembered, too, what with his being in Congress at the time and all.

(Just as a side note, I don't really buy his premise either, since I think the Democrats have made their fair share of overtures to the House Republicans. I just think that, even if Boehner's point were valid, the House GOP kind of has it coming.)